{
  "id": 9403872,
  "title": "Natalie Nakase deserves WNBA Coach of the Year — again",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/natalie-nakase-deserves-wnba-coach-of-the-year-again",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-23T19:53:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SB Nation",
    "slug": "sb-nation",
    "url": "https://www.sbnation.com/womens-sports/1129842/natalie-nakase-wnba-coach-of-the-year"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Natalie Nakase, the head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, is once again a strong contender for the WNBA Coach of the Year award. Last year, she led the team to a remarkable 23-21 record and was the clear favorite for the award. This year, the Valkyries have taken their success to a new level, boasting the second-best record in the league at 31-12 and the best point differential at +7.2 points per game. Their defensive prowess is also top-notch, holding opponents to just 75.1 points per game on average. Nakase's ability to maximize the potential of her deep roster, nurture young talent, and instill confidence in her players has been instrumental in their success. While other coaches like Cheryl Reeve, Sydney Johnson, and Becky Hammon are also deserving candidates, Nakase's exceptional performance and strategic leadership make her a deserving choice for the award once again.",
  "summary": "Coach of the Year is one of the most peculiar awards in sports. The award is typically given to a coach who exceeded external expectations, and due to the media’s limited inside-access to teams and locker rooms, it’s sometimes difficult to discern exactly who to credit and who to blame for a team’s performance. Still, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "The Athletic names WNBA Coach of the Year and Most Improved Player of the Year",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/the-athletic-names-wnba-coach-of-the-year-and-most-improved-player-of",
        "published": "2026-09-23T10:46:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SB Nation",
        "title": "Who I’m voting for the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award and why",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/who-im-voting-for-the-wnbas-most-improved-player-award-and-why",
        "published": "2026-09-23T14:42:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}